Dark Side

The Shining (1980)

Barat Ali Batoor - The Dancing Boys Of Afghanistan series 2010 Bacha Baazi is the name of a cultural tradition of young boys, dressed as women, dancing for men as entertainment. The dancing boys are called Bacha Bereesh (Boys without Beards). A young boy will live in the keep of a powerful man, and he will dress as a woman and dance for parties of men. Many times he will also be sexually exploited. Many years of war have caused breakdown in Afghan society and an abuse of power by those in control. The tradition of bacha baazi has become increasingly more common and many young boys are kidnapped and abducted into the practice. Homeless children and orphans are especially vunerable. pic #1  Shaharyar became a dancer when he was 17, after his father died and he needed to make money for his family. He met his master in a Chai Khana, or tea shop, and was taught dancing. The master is now his agent, and takes a cut of his what he earns performing for parties. pic #2  Shukur, 21 in this picture, was kidnapped in Kabul when he was 12 years old and taken to Kunduz where he was kept as a Bacha Bereesh - a dancing boy - for a rich and powerful man. He was 17 when he escaped, and began making a living from his dancing.

La La Land (2016, Damien Chazelle)

Francis Ford Coppola on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’, 1979.